Top Five Favorite Books

I’ve always loved reading but I’ve never had a good memory of things I’ve read. So a book when I reach the end I hold on to a little longer to keep it within me then let it go. Here are books that I remember and will forever be etched in my memory although have to confess my recollection can still be vague. These stories touched a chord and I was fascinated with the exceptional writing and storytelling of these authors. Masters in their craft they gave us stories to cherish. Here are my Top Five Favorite Books.

Roots by Alex Haley

Roots is celebrated for its portrayal of African-American history through several generations. It traces the journey of a young man from Africa to slavery and later freedom in the United States.

I read this book when I was in my teens and to this day it remains one of my most favourite books.

The journey of Kunta Kinte and how he kept his roots alive through generations with his story and the remarkable way he could be traced back to his home is so beautifully woven.

I was particularly moved by how Kunta Kinte was so proud in his home and happy and he was suddenly snatched from there. The description of how frightened he is to have been abducted is a passage from the book that is still within me.

It explores how deeply in touch we are with our roots and whatever may happen you can never lose that sense of belonging to a place you’ve always known.

Through the book I learnt more about slavery and as a young girl every page that I turned was a study in history.

Yes I don’t have fresh memories of the book but what I remember is the silent desperation and the quest to stay alive. It describes what freedom really means so beautifully through the eyes of one Kunta Kinte. This will be one of the very first novels I read and my favourite.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Told from the perspective of Death during World War II, the book offers a distinctive viewpoint on human resilience and the impact of words and storytelling.

This book is so delightfully sweet. Each character is so unique and how books become an integral part of who they are. It renders the thirst for books so beautifully and what it means to have them especially when you can’t. The characters are tender and vulnerable and they speak to you.

The Book Thief to me is such a clever and pleasing book with an out of the box concept. It’s one I might read again which I don’t do often.

Far from the Madding Crowd by Tom Hardy

Hardy’s novel is renowned for its exploration of love, relationships, and the consequences of individual choices in the pastoral setting of rural England.

The characters, particularly Bathsheba Everdene and her suitors, are intricately developed, and the novel delves into the complexities of human emotions and societal expectations.

I remember this book because I went through a period where I wouldn’t read as much and this is the first book I picked up after a long hiatus. I have to admit I don’t remember it too well but I fell in love with it so much that it restored my love for reading.

The Stationery Shop of Tehran by Marjan Kamali

This novel provides a glimpse into Iranian culture and history, using a love story set in a stationery shop as a lens to explore broader themes of political upheaval and personal sacrifice.

This book is so much about letters and communication that it instantly made me love it. The Iraninan history and culture blends in with the story of two estranged lovers so fluidly. It’s a simple book yet interesting to read and keep reading.

Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

Set in the marshes of North Carolina, the novel immerses readers in its atmospheric and vividly described setting, creating a unique backdrop for the story.

Where the Crawdads Sing drew me in for exactly the same reason. The setting. The marsh was almost something I could relate to. The book is intriguing from the start a feral child, her love with nature and how the story twists and turns in so many meandering and beautiful ways and there’s no way you could guess the end.

A beautiful mystery with a deep romance. I loved this book.

Reading literally takes you places from the home of Kunta Kinte to the beauty of books in World War II, love in rural England, to the letters of Iran and the deep love of a girl for the marsh. I recommend these books as my top five favorite books. I’m sure some of these are your own too.